Patch 5.2.0: The Thunder King is the first World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria patch of 2013 that focuses on the return of the Thunder King. It was targeted to be released February 26,[1] but was delayed for March 5.[2] This patch includes a massive new raid dungeon, a multi-faceted new quest hub, Pet Battle improvements, new world bosses, significant class balance changes, brand new pets and mounts, assorted bug fixes, and more.

Ten client patches all called "Patch 5.2.0" have been released so far, all to fix minor bugs. See the patch list for more information.

General

Here players can join the assault to conquer the Thunder King's island stronghold, unlock new questlines and daily quest hubs, participate in special events, earn the right to visit the fabled Treasure Room, lay claim to an arsenal of powerful mogu artifacts for their faction, and more.

After both the Alliance and the Horde have eked out a foothold on the isle, players can choose to perform quests that are PvE or PvP focused. PvP quests will direct players against opposing faction NPCs, but slaying opposing players will grant credit as well.

As the heroes conquer the Isle, they will unlock the powerful Thunder Forge, which will allow Blacksmiths to forge mighty raid-worthy items, as well as classic weapons from the past.

Heroes can join the war effort and find transportation to Isle of Thunder by visiting the Shado-Pan Garrison in Townlong Steppes on the western shores of Pandaria. The Isle of Thunder will be unlocked progressively, based on each realms' participation in the war effort; initially only some of the Isle's features will be unlocked. Future unlocked content will include the Stormsea Landing and the outdoor raid boss, Nalak, the Storm Lord.

Heroes fortunate enough to acquire a "[Key to the Palace of Lei Shen]" can bring it to the Shado-Pan on the Isle of Thunder and use it to infiltrate the fabled treasure vaults of the first emperor. Heroes are tasked with grabbing as much loot as they can within five minutes. Larger chests will have the most loot, including special keys that can be used at the end of the run for a chance at epic gear and other major rewards. Keys are awarded from rare bosses, hidden chests around the island, and from award satchels obtained by completing daily quests.

Lei Shen, the Thunder King, has returned to wreak his vengeance on Pandaria. It falls to the heroes of the Alliance and the Horde to stop the newly resurrected tyrant and his Zandalari allies in the massive new raid: Throne of Thunder.

Throne of Thunder is a sprawling citadel housing 12 new raid encounters, and players that defeat Lei Shen in Heroic mode can earn the opportunity to face an additional 13th foe.

The Raid Finder version of the Throne of Thunder is divided into 4 different sections, Last Stand of the Zandalari, Forgotten Depths, Halls of Flesh-Shaping, and Pinnacle of Storms.

Join the Shado-Pan Assault in their singular drive to see Lei Shen defeated once and for all, and gain access to impressive Valor reward items. Reputation with this faction can be earned only within the Throne of Thunder raid dungeon.

The Legendary Quest Continues

Wrathion is determined to know the origin and source of Mogu power, and Azeroth's mightiest heroes will aid the Black Prince in finding out what it is. The search for information will take players into the depths of the Thunder King's Palace, and pit them against trials of perseverance and skill. Along the way, they'll unlock the secrets to a new legendary metagem, the Crown of the Heavens.

Players seeking to re-acquire previous Legendary quest rewards (Such as gems for Sha-touched weapons) can now speak with the Blacktalon Quartermaster, the surly-looking Pandaren standing in the first floor of the Tavern in the Mists.

New World Bosses: Nalak, the Storm Lord and Oondasta

After the Isle of Thunder has been conquered, the gate guardian of the Thunder King's citadel will appear: Nalak, the Storm Lord. Players will frequently have the opportunity to test their mettle against him.

Found in a place that has been lost in time, the great devilsaur lord Oondasta has been outfitted for battle with weaponry and armor by the Zandalari, and awaits players brave enough (or foolhardy enough) to seek him out on the mysterious Isle of Giants found in the seas north of Kun-Lai Summit.

Taking Over The Farm

Players that have grown attached to working the land at Sunsong Ranch can now acquire the farm from Farmer Yoon via a quest. The farmhouse becomes a rest point like an Inn, where the player can bind and instantly log out. Work orders will pour into the farm from factions across Pandaria, and completing a work order will earn a reputation boost with the issuing faction.

The option to take over the farm is available to characters that are exalted with the Tillers and have unlocked all 16 farm plots.

New World Boss System

All world bosses (Sha of Anger, Galleon, Nalak the Storm Lord, and Oondasta) are now Tap to Faction. This new system offers every eligible player of the same faction that engages a boss the chance to earn loot. Under the new system, players will only be able to earn loot from each world boss once per week.

Classes

General

Area Damage Cap: The area damage cap is now 20 targets (was 10). This means area of effect damage spells now reach their maximum damage when striking 20 targets. If more than 20 targets are struck, then the total damage done is spread evenly over the actual number of targets present.

[Starfall] will no longer strike targets that are affected by crowd control effects.

Guardian

[Thick Hide] now reduces critical strike chance from all types of attacks made against the Guardian Druid, instead of just melee.

Restoration

[Naturalist]: This new passive learned at level 10 by Restoration Druids increases all healing done by the Druid by 10%.

Wild Mushrooms will now each gain 25% of the overhealing performed by the Druid's [Rejuvenation] effects, up to a maximum of 33% of the Druid's health in bonus healing, and growing larger as they do so. When [Wild Mushroom: Bloom] is cast, this bonus healing will be divided evenly amongst targets in the area-of-effect.

Feral Druid PvP Gloves now also increases the duration of [Bear Hug] by 1 second.

Mage

[Invocation] now removes [Evocation]'s cooldown, and reduces its channeling time and duration by 50%. A completed Evocation now grants 15% increased damage for 1 minute after an Evocation is completed, instead of 25% increased damage for 40 seconds. Passive mana regeneration is reduced by 50% only while Invoker's Energy is active.

[Glyph of Evocation] now causes the Invocation talent to restore 10% (was 20%) health after completing an Evocation.

[Flameglow], a new talent is available at level 30 and replaces [Blazing Speed]. The passive ability encases the Mage in fiery energy, absorbing damage from each attack made against the Mage equal to 20% of their spellpower, up to a maximum of 30% of the attack.

[Ice Floes] now has a 45-second cooldown (was 1 minute) and its duration has been increased to 15 seconds (was 10 seconds).

[Ring of Frost] cast instantly through [Presence of Mind] now has a 2-second arming period before the Freeze effect is activated against targets in the area of effect. The 2-second arming period can be reduced by Haste.

Mage PvP 2-piece bonus now requires [Counterspell] to successfully interrupt a spell before applying the 4 second cooldown reduction to Counterspell.

Arcane

For Arcane Mages, [Evocation] now restores 40% (was 60%) of total mana over 6 seconds, and consumes all Arcane Charges. For each Arcane Charge consumed, the total amount of mana regenerated is increased by 10%, up to a maximum of 80% over 6 seconds. Evocation remains the same for Fire and Frost.

[Arcane Blast]'s damage has been reduced by 22.9% and mana cost has been increased to 1.66667% of base mana (was 1.5%).

Monk

Ring of Peace forms an 8 yard Sanctuary around a friendly target for 8 seconds, disabling enemy player auto-attacks in PvP, and causing all enemies (both players and NPCs) in the area of effect to be disarmed for the duration. In addition, enemies that cast a damaging spell while within the area of effect will be silenced for 3 seconds. The ability has a 45-second cooldown.

Nimble Brew removes all stun, fear, and root effects, and reduces the duration of those effects if they are reapplied by 60% for 6 seconds. It has a 2-minute cooldown.

[Chi Wave] now does 100% more damage and 14% less healing, and no longer costs Chi, and has a 15-second cooldown.

[Zen Sphere] now has a limit of 2 (was 1), detonates when either the recipient reaches 35% health or the Zen Sphere is dispelled, no longer costs Chi, and has a 10-second cooldown. Its periodic damage has been increased by 22%, periodic healing has been reduced by 61%, its detonation healing has been reduced by 62%.

[Chi Burst] now does 380% more damage, 69% more healing, no longer costs Chi, and has a 30-second cooldown.

[Paralysis] is now a physical, non-magical effect, can no longer be dispelled, grounded or reflected, and its base range has been increased to 20 yards. The Paralysis effect lasts 40 seconds (was 30 seconds) for non-player targets, 4 seconds when used against other players, and lasts 50% (was 200%) longer when used from behind a target.

[Spear Hand Strike], used on a target that's facing the Monk silences them for 2 seconds (was 4 seconds).

The Windwalker can summon up to 2 elemental duplicates that mirror damaging abilities that the monk uses while they are active. For each spirit summoned, the Monk's damage is reduced: 1 spirit causes the Monk and the spirit to deal 60% of the Monk's normal damage, while 2 spirits will cause the Monk and both active spirits to deal 45% of the Monk's normal damage. Each spirit lasts until the ability is canceled, that spirit's target dies or otherwise becomes unavailable, or they're killed (they can be targeted and have 10% of the Monk's health).

When using [Fists of Fury], the stun effect will only apply from the Monk (not the spirits).

Bottled Fury increases the damage bonus provided by [Tigereye Brew] by .2% per Mastery per stack.

[Brewing: Tigereye Brew] now gains 1 charge after spending 3 Chi (was 4 Chi), increases damage by 1% per stack (was 2%), can stack to 20 but only 10 charges can be consumed per activation, and a user interface alert displays upon reaching 10 charges. Stacks of [Tigereye Brew] are cleared at the start of a raid encounter. This ability is improved by Bottled Fury.

[Rising Sun Kick] now causes the Monk's abilities to inflict an additional 10% damage (was 15%) on the target.

For Holy and Discipline, Power Word: Solace replaces [Holy Fire]. It deals the same damage, and interacts with other spells and abilities in the same manner but does not trigger [Atonement], is instant, costs no mana, and restores 1% of maximum mana on each cast. Damage dealt by Power Word: Solace will heal a nearby friendly player within 40 yards of the target for 100% of the damage dealt (50% when healing the Priest).

For Shadow, this ability causes [Mind Flay] to gain the Insanity effect on a target affected by Devouring Plague. Insanity increases the damage of Mind Flay by 33% per Shadow Orb consumed.

[Power Infusion] now increases the Priest's damage by 5% in addition to current effects.

[Phantasm] no longer makes the Priest untargetable by ranged attacks, and the movement impairing immunity effect is now 5 seconds (was 3 seconds).

[Psyfiend] belonging to an individual Priest will no longer cast Psychic Horror on the same target twice.

Discipline

Shield Discipline now also increases all healing done by a lesser amount, but the bonus provided by Mastery has been reduced by 36%.

[Penance] damage and healing has been increased by 20%, now a cooldown of 9 seconds (was 10 seconds), and has a range of 40 yards for both friendly and hostile targets (was 40 yards for friendly and 30 yards for hostile targets).

[Focused Will] now reduces damage taken by 15% per stack, with a limit of 2 stacks.

[Spirit Shell] can no longer be dispelled and now provides an absorb shield equal to the average healing and absorb of the triggering spell, including criticals and Divine Aegis.

[Rapture] now reduces the cost of [Power Word: Shield] by 25% and provides mana equal to 150% (was 200%) of the priest's Spirit, but no longer benefits from Spirit provided by short-duration bonuses.

[Divine Aegis] now causes critical heals to apply an absorb shield on the target for 100% of the amount healed instead of healing for twice as much. In addition, it grants Power Word: Shield a chance equal to the Priest's critical chance for the shield to absorb twice as much damage.

[Burst of Speed] now costs 30 Energy (was 50 Energy), can be used in Stealth, and always grants increased movement speed in addition to breaking snare effects, but no longer breaks root effects.

[Shuriken Toss] now causes the Rogue to throw ranged shurikens coated in Lethal Poison and auto-attack at 75% damage (was 80%) for up to 10 seconds if the enemy is farther than 10 yards away.

[Deadly Throw] can now interrupt spellcasting when used at 3, 4 and 5 combo points, and upon interrupt prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 4, 5 and 6 seconds respectively, instead of 5 combo points and 6 seconds.

[Lava Burst] base damage has been reduced by 33% but now always deals a critical strike. When cast on targets affected by Flame Shock, it now deals 50% more damage.

[Totemic Restoration] no longer allows the Shaman to instantly destroy a totem to obtain a full 50% refund on cooldown. Any totems that have been destroyed or replaced behave as if the totem had been active for at least 1 second.

Warlock

[Fel Armor] now reduces damage taken by 10%, instead of increasing the Warlock's armor.

[Blood Fear] has been replaced by [Blood Horror]. Blood Horror costs 5% health, has 1 charge, and lasts 60 seconds with a 30-second cooldown. While Blood Horror is active, melee attacks that strike the Warlock will cause the attacker to be horrified for 4 seconds.

[Burning Rush] now also prevents movement-impairing effects from reducing the Warlock's movement speed below 100% of normal, in addition to its other effects.

[Grimoire of Sacrifice] now increases the damage of abilities by 15% (was 25%) for Destruction Warlocks and 25% (was 50%) for Affliction Warlocks. In addition, it now provides the spell [Whiplash] instead of [Seduction] when a Succubus is sacrificed.

[Warbringer] now reduces the target's movement by 50% for 15 seconds (8 seconds in PvP), in addition to its other effects. The 3-second stun/knockdown is now in the diminishing returns category for stuns (same as [Shockwave] and [Storm Bolt]), and not the proc stun diminishing returns category.

[Shield Barrier] now scales approximately 10% less efficiently with attack power.

Quests

Warlocks can now undertake a solo adventure that culminates with the ability to change the color of their Fire spells to appear Fel green. The quest begins for those Warlocks determined or fortunate enough to have laid their hands on the fabled Codex of Xerrath.

Upon reaching level 20 and level 60, characters will automatically receive a new quest directing them to visit the racial riding trainer and mount vendors.

Pets whose color schemes change each time they are summoned have returned. Older pets with this behavior now have it back, as well as some newcomers.

Level-capped players will now have a chance to earn Lesser Charms of Good Fortune after winning a pet battle versus a pet within 5 levels of the highest level pet on their team. Higher-level pets will offer a better chance to earn a charm.

Winning a pet battle versus a team within 5 levels of the player's highest-level pet will now award player experience.

Fleeing a pet battle will no longer despawn the pet that was being battled, but doing so will now inflict some damage on the fleeing pet battle team.

Disconnecting from a pet battle will once again respawn the pets you were fighting.

Elite Battle Pets have been added to the game world. These rare pets will spawn alone against an entire team. The Beasts of Fable taming quest will now become available from Gentle San or Sara Finkleswitch once Aki the Chosen has been defeated.

Raids, Dungeons and Scenarios

Throne of Thunder raid bosses in Normal and Heroic difficulties have a chance of dropping items with the Thunderforged designation. Thunderforged items are 6 item levels higher than their Normal or Heroic counterparts and will drop more frequently in 25-player raids. For a more in-depth look at this change, check out this discussion thread.

To encourage Raid Finder groups to persevere, each time an Raid Finder group wipes on a boss fight all players in the group receives a stacking buff that increases health, damage dealt, and healing done by 5% (up to a maximum of 10 stacks). This buff is cleared once the boss has been killed.

Satchels obtained via the Raid Finder now have a chance to contain additional rewards, including: consumables, Spirits of Harmony, rare pets or mounts, and Raid Finder versions of Normal and Heroic difficulty zone drops that were previously unavailable from Raid Finder encounters!

You can now earn bonus reputation for your first dungeon and scenario of the day. You can select which reputation you choose to champion by selecting it from the reputation panel on the character screen. When you queue for a dungeon or scenario, the UI will remind you which reputation you are championing and allow you to change the reputation from there. (You cannot change that reputation once you are in the dungeon or scenario.)

On Normal and Heroic mode, zone-wide auras have been activated in Mogu'shan Vaults, Heart of Fear, and Terrace of Endless Spring, reducing the health and damage of all enemies therein by 10%. A NPC near the entrance within each zone explains this, and offers to deactivate the buff for the benefit of brave/foolhardy adventurers.

Heroic Pandaria dungeons now award 100 [Justice Points] per boss. Gold drops for those bosses have also been changed from a static 50 gold to a 40-60 gold range. Less gold will drop in groups consisting of fewer than 5 players.

Characters who have earned over 27,000 Conquest points during Season 13 will gain access to new vendors that sell Conquest PvP gear for Honor. These vendors can be found near existing Pandaria PvP vendors.

PvP trinkets that clear loss-of-control effects will now also clear these effects from the player's pet as well.

For casters and healers, PvP Power is now split evenly between main-hand and off-hand in a manner similar to a dual-wield melee class. This change is retroactive, affecting Season 12 Malevolent and Malevolent Elite items. There should be no net change for any character already using a main-hand/off-hand combination.

Season 13 caster weapons cost 2250 Conquest Points (was 2500 in Season 12) and shields/off-hands cost 1250 (was 1000), to reflect the increased value of the off-hand slot for classes that use it in this manner. This change is not retroactive and applies only to Season 13 items.

Battlegrounds

Players in low-level Battlegrounds will have their effective level raised to the maximum level allowed in that Battleground bracket. Players' base stats and spells are scaled accordingly, and are treated as the same level when determining hits, misses, and critical effect chance.

Rated Battlegrounds now award Conquest to the losing team based on their final score. The losing team can earn up to 200 Conquest Points from a very close match.

New raid and PvP blacksmithing plans have been added, and can be acquired through daily research of Lightning Steel Ingots.

Seasoned Blacksmiths will be able to find a way to create Lightning Steel Ingots once their realm has unlocked the Thunder Forges on the Isle of Thunder. These ingots will allow blacksmiths to recreate powerful weapons from the past, updated for Mists of Pandaria. These power weapons will be bind-on-equip and making them will take a significant amount of dedication.

For blacksmiths who have lapsed in their trade (i.e., haven't practiced blacksmithing since the Burning Crusade), there is a (not necessarily cost efficient) way to catch-up. Blacksmiths at your faction's shrines in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms will be able to teach you training plans for crafting common household items using Ghost Iron.

Serpent's Heart is a daily cooldown that consumes several Serpent's Eyes to create a random rare quality Pandaren gem. In addition, there is a small chance that a player will discover the design for the [Sapphire Cub] or [Jade Owl].

Patterns for Magnificence of Leather and Magnificence of Scales could be found via world drops. These patterns allow the leatherworker to create Magnificent Hides more economically and share a daily cooldown.

Adventurers can now upgrade old heirlooms by turning in the item and paying [Justice Points] or Darkmoon Prize Tickets, converting them into versions that provide benefits up to level 85. Note, the upgrade process will remove all enhancements on the heirloom.

Sunsong Ranch

Seed bags have been added that allow planting of crops 4 plots at a time.

Yoon's Mailbox has been renamed to Sunsong Ranch Mailbox.

The yield from special crops has been improved to make farming them competitive with gathering these items out in the world.

Running the [Master Plow] across underground Virmen will cause them to pop out of the ground at 30% health and stunned.

Wild Crops will now occur less often.

UI

The Reputation panel on the character screen will now let players know which reputations they have purchased and used Grand Commendations for.

There is now an option to show absorb effects (such as [Power Word: Shield]) on player, target, party and raid frames. This feature is currently enabled if you turn on the predictive healing option. Unlike predictive healing, absorb effects will display for enemy targets.

Bug Fixes

Classes

Druid

It is no longer possible for a weaker application of [Living Seed] to overwrite a stronger one.

Paladin

It is no longer possible to refresh [Inquisition] to a lower duration.

Mage

The cooldown of [Cauterize] will now properly reset upon entering an Arena.

Tools

In other languages

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